Takeaways

Yesterday I was polishing a silver tray (for the reception) with this caustic ammonia-smelling polish.  I wasn't making much headway with the ornate edge.  I pulled out an old toothbrush and grabbed some toothpaste.  Voila!

Moral of the story:  it is handy to be a silversmith's daughter

Last night Mark was working and Emma was reading.  Adam and I had a few errands which ended up taking most of the evening but neither of us minded a bit because we were in the car together.

Moral of the story:  Adam and I like each other

You know how you learn a new word and then you keep hearing it everywhere?  I keep hearing about Bear Lake.  Adam went there to visit Girls' Camp.  Marianne and Robert vacationed there.  Braeden is there right now with Anna's family.  Cortney is going next week with her family.  Everyone is raving about it.

Moral of the story:  maybe next summer

This week I have four appointments for Mark + we are going to stop by Target to look for new glasses for him.  (He is getting his pump tomorrow!  Happy news!)

Moral of the story:  there's a reason our yard has so many weeds

Countdown

One week from today.

Yesterday I felt a thrum of anxiety all day long.  I talked to Marianne and she said that she felt the same way up until after Clarissa's wedding reception.  She said she didn't even realize how anxious she felt until it went away.

It's awfully nice having a sister that does everything nine months before I do.  (She got married nine months before me, gave birth to Clarissa nine before Braeden was born and Clarissa got married nine months before Braeden.)

For Clarissa's reception, Marianne had a cake that was two layers of styrofoam and one layer of cake on the top for the bride and groom to cut.  She served other cake besides.

I thought it was genius.

I've tried to find something similar with no luck.  The closest I could come cost about 5 times as much.

Emma said, "Frost it yourself."

I reminded her that every cake I've ever made looks wonky.

But, I went to baker after baker and none of them were willing to give me what I wanted.  We're serving mint brownies from BYU catering so I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a cake no one will eat.

Finally, I talked to a baker (who wouldn't frost styrofoam because it was "against policy") who told me I should just frost it myself, "It's not that hard."

So I didn't want to listen to Emma who knows I am a clumsy froster (is froster a verb?) but I decided to listen to this random baker.

As the time approaches I'm feeling the same way I felt about agreeing to accompany our kids on the piano while they sang in church.  What have I done?!?

Last night, after rehashing all my anxiety with Adam but before eating ice cream on the deck, I practiced frosting:

cameo shot of Emma who was on her phone/offering moral support

The little dollop in the center of the cake is Adam sampling the frosting.

So I decided to practice a few more times.  If nothing else, Desi is going to decorate the cake with flowers and perhaps we can use a lot of flowers.

Emma took a picture of the sunset with her phone for me because it takes the best pictures and the sunset was gorgeous.

Sitting on the deck on summer evenings.

It helps at least 75% of the anxiety roll away.

Love sweet love

Saturday I attended a family bridal shower for Anna.  It was at her aunt Steph's house.  Braeden had told me repeatedly that I would love Aunt Steph.

When I arrived and I introduced myself to her, she said, "I thought you were going to say you were Braeden's sister, not his mom!"  So yes.  I immediately loved her.

(I don't look too young to be Braeden's mom, but I don't complain if anyone ever says that.)

I got to meet Anna's aunts and grandma and a few cousins.  They are all good people and it feels so comfortable to be around each other.  My mom, grandma, Aunt Launa, Marianne, Olivia and Melanee all came which made me happy.  Weddings are all about love.  There's love between the bride and groom of course, but people that love them also show up and give gifts and love and help celebrate and it's wonderful.

Anna got some very nice gifts and their little nest will be well feathered.  Amy, Anna's mom, made her a beautiful denim picnic blanket.  Growing up, Anna's family always had a denim picnic blanket in their car which Amy's mom had made for her.  The sentimental gift made Anna cry and then that made me cry because I am an empathetic crier who cries when people I love cry.

So I'm a lot of fun....

My mom made Anna a quilt top.  She realized (wisely) that she didn't have the time to make 24 quilts for her grandchildren so she is making them each a quilt top when they get married and they can quilt it however they choose.

The quilt is made of remnants of the wedding quilts that my mom made for each of her children's weddings.  I caught my mom mid expression here, but I'm still posting the picture because I love those two women and that quilt.

My mom's health made it a difficult labor of love to complete and it means a lot to me that she made the beautiful quilt.

After the shower, I had the chance to meet Mark, Anna's dad.  I stood around chatting with Mark and Amy and I realized how likable and easy they are to talk to.  If we were neighbors, we would be friends.  No wonder we love Anna so much!

I gave Anna a ride back to Provo.  We had a great conversation about trials and unanswered prayers and miracles and you know, just idle chit chat like that.  I helped her move the gifts into their apartment which is NEXT DOOR to the apartment where we lived when Braeden was born.  It was bizarre to be back there.  I used to sit right outside those doors with baby Braeden waiting for Adam to come home from work.  What if I'd known that in 22 years he would be living there with his bride?!?

Maybe I already mentioned this.  That apartment we lived in, apartment 8?  We bought the contract from Amy and Mark.  We were in the same ward briefly.  They look vaguely familiar to me but we don't really remember each other.

Mark (Carlson) said we need to find out who lived in the apartment after Adam and I moved out because it is Anna's sister Natalie's destiny to marry their son.

The next two weeks are going to be a wonderful chaotic whirlwind.  I'm going to try to savor every moment and enjoy all the celebrating.

Because the perfect pairing of these two that I love is worth celebrating.

Grateful Friday

On Wednesday, Pioneer Day, we had a neighborhood BBQ.  My friend Cortney posted this picture on Facebook and it made me happy + grateful.

Mark sat down for a few minutes and ate but otherwise he played.  (That's him in the middle with the blue shirt.)  He went and gathered flags in the neighborhood after the BBQ, then Adam and I found him still out playing with the boys.

Last Sunday he was sick and stayed home from church.  It makes me sad when he is so sick.  His glucose levels were out of whack and he clearly just felt awful.  I felt sort of sorry for myself when I saw the other boys his age at church.  They all looked so healthy.  I wanted my healthy boy back.

It is good to remember I do have him back.  He's healthy.  He has hard days but he has gained weight and energy back.  He's happy and busy.  He played for several hours and got extremely sweaty.  I've never felt grateful for a big sweaty boy before.

I feel grateful for medicine and I feel like all the cost/hassle/time spent are worth it.

**

*

My default is worrying for my kids.  Are they OK?  Are they really?  How about now?

Today Emma is heading off for the weekend to spend time at her friends' family's ranch with them.  I love that when Emma wants something, she makes it happen.  She worked extra time all week so she could leave early--between her two jobs she worked 12+ hours a day for most of the week.

When I see her resolve and ability to do what needs doing, I feel assurance rather than worry.  When she knows what she wants, there is no stopping that girl.

**

*

Anna's been in Virginia with her family and working on a slideshow for the wedding receptions.  I sent her some pictures to use and she matched them with similar pictures of her own.

She sent me a few side by sides that delighted me.

Look at those little cherubs in their exersaucers!

Here they are with their brand new baby brothers.  Anna is a ringer for our niece Talia in that picture!

This is my favorite pairing of all:

I also loved what Anna had to say about it:

Such a perfect match!

Anna sent us the completed slideshow to watch and Adam and I loved it.  It's amazing to see pictures of our own golden sunshine boy growing up and see pictures of this glorious golden sunshine girl who grew up at the same time.  What a blessing for all of us that they found each other.

After the slideshow, Adam said, "Can you believe our boy is getting married?  He found someone who he loves as much as I love you."

Adam knows how to say the right thing.

And I'm grateful.

Reclamation

With my classroom and wedding preparations in hand, I've turned some of my attention to our house which has been sadly neglected.

I decided because 1) it is cool down there and 2) it has been driving me crazy, to tackle the basement.

First, our boys are basically invasive species.  Think bamboo or ivy, but in your house.  Their stuff spills over and gets left around and Mark had slowly taken over a good chunk of the basement.

I reclaimed my space, or more accurately, the common family space.

I put notebooks and books and boxes back in each of the boys' rooms, I sent Mark upstairs with piles of dishes he had left around, I relegated stuff to the DI pile, I threw a bunch of stuff away, I put things where they belonged, I lined up books on the bookshelf that had been set haphazardly around on shelves, I rearranged games in the armoire so they'll fit.

It all felt glorious.

We have been slowly collecting National Park posters.  I finally hung some up.

The flag and picture Emma made in 6th grade are temporarily there until we get more posters framed.

I should have taken a before picture so you could appreciate this.  It had become Mark's domain.  Imagine a teenage son who doesn't put things away and you get the idea.  Maybe I didn't take a before picture because it was too depressing, but here is the after:

I feel like I can breathe again.

Heritage

I love living back where the 24th of July is a thing.

And it's a thing here.

Yesterday I made the mistake of asking the school secretary if I could bring something to her today.  She scoffed and said, "It'll be the 24th, so...no."

The custodian shook his head at my folly.

On Sunday three men in our ward with amazing voices sang Come Come Ye Saints in church.  They were accompanied by another man on the harmonica.  It was spectacular and I maybe ugly cried.

I was thinking about my pioneer heritage and the names I've heard stories about all my life were rolling around in my head.  I was thinking about their strength and sacrifice and willingness to obey.  They inspire me and make me grateful.  I look out over the valley that will have fireworks light up the sky tonight and wonder what they would think if they could see it.

I would like to tell them that you can see multiple temples from my house.

I would like to tell them that I can read stories about them and see their pictures and see my relationship to them instantly with the click of a few keys on my computer.

I would like to tell them that I carry their stories around with me not just on my phone, but in my heart too.

I remember Henrietta who would cry for a crust of bread as a five year old when she crossed the plains.  I remember strong Ellen who attracted the gaze of her husband while hefting sacks of grain.  I remember Margaret who gave birth nine days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley.

Their blood is in my veins.

I love pausing today to remember them and appreciate what they did for me.

It occurs to me that I haven't done a great job instilling the appreciation for pioneer ancestry in our children.  For one thing, the covered wagons is only part of their story and it's all of mine.  For another thing, they didn't grow up in the Great Basin like I did.

Really, though.  I need to do better.

Sunday I tried to remedy the situation and with Desi visiting, we talked about some family stories.  Braeden found a story about Elizabeth Melvina Richardson who is my third great grandmother.  Desi read it aloud to us.

Don't be fooled by that calm gentle expression.  That woman was as tough as nails.  At sixteen she married a widower who had six children.  Once when a mob attacked them, she hid money in a bucket of nails and hid colt pistols under her dress.  She was the only one in her family who went West.  On that journey she outran some Indian warriors who had surrounded her carriage.

I honor her today and all the rest.

I love these stories.  They are my touchstones.  They give me something to aspire to.  They help bolster me for my own scary nemeses.

The Progress

Jennifer mentioned wanting to see pictures of my classroom and I'm here to comply.

It has been done on something of a shoestring.  I made a few purchases--notably several cans of black spray paint to repaint a bookshelf and picture frames.  My goal was color and places for the eyes to rest.  I still have lots of organizing beneath the surfaces to do and I have some masks I want to hang up, but here are some pictures of what we've been up to.

This bulletin board is specific to drama, which we will focus on the first third of the year.  I learned this acronym at my professional development days from another drama teacher and I liked it.

This is the corner where my desk is.  I have a crate of books still at home to fill the shelf with.  I figure with the paper lanterns above my head, kids will be less tempted to reach up and try to swat at them.  Less tempted.  I know they'll try, but I thought they were cheerful so worth it.

Emma designed the calendar for me when I couldn't find anything I liked.  She did one of each month of the school year.  The words in blue are expectations the classes will earn points for meeting.  Musical instruments are in the black bins, out of reach.  (Except Mark and Braeden could reach them and drove me crazy until I made them stop.)

This is something I'm excited about.  Every week we will focus on one artist briefly.  Complete with maps to show where the artist lived.

Everyone pitched in on these.  Finding the fonts, cutting letters, hanging them up.

I inherited the paint palette (not from the llama lover, from someone else).  I love it!  So clever.  The "paint"is inverted paper plates, painted bright colors.

It's nothing glamorous and is kind of dingy and worn like an old school building is.  But I like it.  I feel partly nervous and partly excited to think of it filled with students.

A little to the right

Early Saturday morning Adam and I drove to the University of Utah campus to pick up Braeden.  He's down to one week left of EFY.  He is loving it and also can't wait for it to be done so he can get married!

Later in the morning we marshaled all the troops and went to my classroom.  We hung bulletin boards and paper lanterns and pictures on the walls.  There was a lot of "does this work?" and "Braeden can you reach that?" and "Mark, will you fix this?"

He has been keeping his toolbox in the classroom.  Because he's awesome.

Adam and Mark untangled the cords for the big mess that was the ELMO overhead projector.  They adjusted it and made it all work properly and Adam discovered how the sound system works.

Emma stood on the counter with a ruler in one hand and a stapler in the other and placed letters on a bulletin board.  When asked, she would turn around and give an opinion.

Up higher, a little to the right.  No, too far.

Besides getting a lot accomplished, I loved all of us working together.  And I like knowing that they know what my classroom looks like.  It's weird as a stay at home mother of so many years to have a life that they aren't a part of.

So I want them to be a part of it.

We went to Pizza Pie Cafe and talked about everything and nothing.

These are my favorite people.

In the afternoon, Braeden napped, Mark hung out with his friends, and Emma cleaned her bathroom and finally changed the water for her fish.  Every time I go in her room, I've been telling her that he is screaming at me, begging me to save him.

She would say, "I'll get to it."

To her credit, she's been working a ton of hours between her two jobs.

Still.  Ever since Bruiser danced to ABBA, I kind of like the little guy and I want him in a clean fish bowl.

(Also, I secretly--not so secretly--hope he dies before she goes to France because I don't want to take care of him.  It's complicated.  We aren't really pet people.)

Adam and I did errands which is one of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday.

After weekends together I feel properly aligned again.

Grateful Friday

Here are some things that are making me grateful:

Things are coming together.  My classroom is taking shape.  The wedding reception is taking shape.  I still feel like I have a mountain to climb with my new teaching gig, but things are coming together.

**

*

I picked Emma up from work because we are down a car and Adam went to girls' camp for the bishopric night and Mark was working.  Totally worth it to get to drive with her.  We talked about the social life of her theater friends and about France and about some families we know.  She said, "I think in big families the parents get more lax with the younger kids."

I agreed.

She said, "Even with Mark it's like that."

"How do you mean?"

"Well you buy him a lot of food you never used to buy."

"Part of that is diabetes guilt."

"Yeah, but even before that."

I agreed.

She said, "If you'd had a few more kids, you would have been really relaxed."

I said, "Emma, we did.  We had five kids but I lost the youngest two."

**

*

With Adam going to girls' camp for the evening, I am grateful that I'm not at girls' camp.  I love not camping.  Forever and ever amen.

Summer

Our Nest thermostat and the Mariners have something in common.

They break Adam's heart every summer.

Adam checks on the app how long our AC runs every day and shows me despairingly.

Yes, but it's hot.

**

*

I had lunch with my friend Cortney the other day.  We were catching up and I asked her what they'd been up to this summer.

She said, "We've been pretty lazy."

That reminded me of our summer, but opposite.

**

*

Mark and I went to the library and I happened to be wearing my Bookmarks Are For Quitters t-shirt.

Several people stopped me to tell me that they liked my shirt.  That never happens besides at the library.

**

*

I went back and forth and back and forth between the company that is supplying an insulin pump for Mark and our doctor's office.  The company didn't get the authorization from the doctor.  The doctor's office said they sent it on July 3.

Back and forth.

Finally yesterday, a lady at the doctor's office realized, "It was sent, but it didn't go through."

Do we still call that being sent?

**

*

I did family history with Marie Louise earlier this week.  She delights me.  We talk family history and record names and dates and try to keep it all straight and print cards for the temple.  She corrects my American pronunciation.  We talk about our children and laugh because we relate to each other in this whole parenting adventure.

A lot.

**

*

Mark and I have been going to my classroom first thing in the morning when it's still 83 degrees inside.  Turns out 83 degrees is doable.  We don't stay past noon.  Because we need to get home to where the AC is working (sorry Adam).

**

*

I picked up some pen needles at the pharmacy and the lady said, "Your total is zero dollars."  I thought two things 1) that is an odd way to say that and 2) we've reached our deductible!

That didn't take too long.

**

*

Last night a parliament (I googled it and that was my favorite name I found for a collective of them) of magpies were in the shade of a tree in our yard.  Every time some squirrels approached, the magpies chased them off.

I haven't gotten over squirrels eating my petunias or tomatoes (I hold grudges against rodents apparently) so I was cheering on the magpies.  The parliament of magpies.

I like words.

Fam-a-lam

Mark, who especially during the school year, usually blocks Fam-a-lam, has given it another chance this summer and is sending nonsense with the rest of us.

Last week, he added Anna.

Which she may regret.  Like it or not, in less than three weeks she's stuck with us so she might as well get used to it.

Here's what's been happening lately.

I sent this picture of the temperature in my classroom.  Yes, 86 degrees.  Because I went into teaching for the luxury apparently.

Braeden answered with this:

And I agree.  The wouldn't happen at Hogwarts and I'm jealous.

Adam sent a few Jane Austen memes.

When he does stuff like that, it makes me think I have the best husband around.  I mean, he sends Jane Austen memes!

Braeden is all about the prequel memes, which I rarely understand.  Add to that the whole Area 51 stuff and I just keep scrolling.

I'm glad he has Anna.

Speaking of things I don't understand, Braeden sent this awhile ago.

I didn't get it so Mark explained.  He was sort of disgusted with me.

Anna sent Braeden this:

He didn't understand it but he said, "Send it to my mom and Emma."

She did and we appreciated it.

The takeaway is that Anna is the smartest one that bridges the gap between the holes in our general knowledge.

Anna flew to Virginia yesterday.

Braeden sent this before she left:

They are both in love and happy and cute.  They make me happy.

Anna sent this from the airport:

She's not just cute and smart.  She's also witty.

I'm glad she's part of fam-a-lam--and soon to be part of the family!

Rainbow

We'll call  Friday night when Braeden crashed the car the storm and we'll call the rest of the weekend the rainbow.

Because it got better.

On Saturday we celebrated Braeden's half birthday.  Because we still do that even when you're 22 (and 1/2) apparently.

I was finally recognized for my efforts:

It was a cooler (from their wedding registry) and the handle was problematic when wrapping.

We went to lunch (Anna too) and then in the afternoon, Desi came over.  We enjoyed dinner with her, after which we talked about pop culture (including but not limited to watching a video of Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart make brownies).  Then Emma and Desi watched a much anticipated made for Netflix rom-com, Mark was at work and Adam and Braeden and I went to Trader Joe's.

There was a rainbow on the way.

We were perusing the aisles of Trader Joe's.  I said no to the mini rosebushes, even though they tempted me because I didn't feel like taking on the commitment.  I said yes to the dark chocolate covered candied ginger.

We walked by a display of "Popcorn in a Pickle" and saw a man and woman stuffing their shopping cart with bags of the stuff.  I think they saw me sort of staring and the guy said, "It's SO good.  Last time I finished the bag before I got home."

"And it's only around in the summer," the woman said.

I decided it was a ringing endorsement so I put a bag in our cart (and it was pretty good--when vinegar is involved I am ALL IN).

Later, Braeden and I surreptitiously took a picture of the couple because they delighted us so much with their overflowing cart of pickle popcorn.  (They were even both wearing bright pickle green.)

Anna came back for church Sunday and the kids all sang in church and I accompanied them.  I am not good enough on the piano to not have a panic attack over that but I 1) didn't mess up and 2) didn't pass out so we'll call that a win.

The kids sounded pretty good.

I think.  I was mostly focused on myself.

That evening we had Desi back and had a taste test of chicken salad sandwiches with the chicken prepared three different ways.  It's what we're serving at the wedding reception.  So this was important research!

Later we took Braeden back to Salt Lake for his next session of EFY.  He was two more weeks of that, then a week in Bear Lake with Anna's family and then that kid is getting married!

Time is marching right on.

Parenting

Friday we were sitting at the dinner table and Mark was gathering his things to leave for work.  He saw a text come in on my phone and brought it to me.

"Read your texts," he said, a little ominously.

They were from Braeden.  He'd been in a fender bender and was fine but Loki is not.  He had to work right then but said he'd call later.

Another son, another fender bender.  And yes, just like Mark, it was Braeden's fault.

This summer.  It's just the gift that keeps on giving.

So...we weren't happy.  Emma and Mark went to work and Adam and I just let all the angst roll over us.

Braeden and I started texting a bit--though he was at work--but Adam didn't text at all.

He's even tempered and a big part of that is that when he's presented with one of these are you kidding me right now?!? parenting situations he just stays quiet until he's ready to be calm.

Braeden finally had a chance to call and he called me.  There were all the apologies (him) and lectures (me) but forgiveness (also me).

I have said it before but I straight up can't imagine people who have ten children.  Three have me MAXED OUT.

Adam got a phone call while I was talking to Braeden.  Braeden wanted to talk to Adam and I suggested later.  (I said maybe tomorrow.)

But Braeden texted Adam to see if they could talk.

Adam said (well, sort of growled) "What am I supposed to say to him?"

I said, "Show him an example of what his Heavenly Father is like."

Adam said, "New Testament or Old Testament?"

Then I started laughing because I don't care what life throws our way, I've got Adam by my side.

And that's worth a lot.

Grateful Friday

Today I'm grateful for perspective.  And I'm grateful that I keep getting reminders when I lose perspective.

I read this recently and it has stayed with me.  "Don't hurt your own feelings."

It's similar to what my dad says often, quoting Brigham Young:

Sometimes I'm good at feeling offended.  I will try to remember:  don't hurt your own feelings.

**

*

Nola has been in Zambia for the past three weeks on a humanitarian trip helping her sister who runs a school there.  She helped build a clinic, helping to pump 250 gallons of water by hand.

Wednesday evening, I walked across the cul-de-sac to catch up.  We sat on her grass in the waning light and she told me all about it.  It was pretty incredible.  Our eyes frequently teared up as she told me about the poverty and the ways people were exploited, especially children.  She told me however, that every person she talked to was happy.  And they all believe in God.

We talked about the comparative embarrassment of affluence we have as Americans.  She said she felt sort of guilty coming home, but then she realized, "No this is where I was planted."

This is where I was planted.

For reasons unknown and undeserved by us, Nola and I were both born into comfort and opportunity.  We've never worried about where we would get water or our next meal.  Never.

We talked about how we'd better do something with our lives, since we were planted here.  We'd better serve and contribute and love.

We also considered that life in affluent America isn't without its problems.  Some of our problems are even the result of our affluence.

Life can be hard no matter who you are.  I want to be like the Zambians though.  I want to be known as someone who is happy and believes in God.

Llamas

I didn't think about llamas much at all.  If you had asked me how I felt about llamas, I would have said put me down as neutral.

Everything has changed.

Llamas are the worst.

The classroom I inherited previously housed a woman who was all in.  As Mark said, "This classroom was right covered with llamas."

She had origami llamas hanging down over the tables, indicating the table number.  (I didn't get a picture of them before Mark squashed them.  He's my number one helper who is willing to clamber up on top of or underneath anything.  Also, he brings his tool box.)

There were llamas on literally every sign or thing hanging up.  The paper she used for cut out letters was printed with llamas.  The background for the bulletin boards was paper covered in llamas.  I sincerely appreciate her dogged commitment to a theme.  But it's too much.

The more I get rid of, the more I find.

I sent these pictures to fam-a-lam.

 Adam replied with this:

So he proved it.

But I still think I win:

There are SIX of these llama cushions.  I found some fabric and I'm recovering them.  Soon.

In case you're wondering.  I'm getting rid of EVERYTHING with a llama on it.

And I'm probably going to have nightmares about llamas.

This was hanging on the wall.  I'm not kidding.  It's in the recycling now.

A delightful day

I loved being at the temple with my family.  Unfortunately Katie and Melanee were sick and Adam and Edgar were working, but the rest of us were there.

Olivia, Liberty--the only endowed grandchild not at work, Ammon, Robert, Marianne, my parents, Enoch and Jennifer, me, Tabor

Here's the immediate family:

I was wearing heels!

It took a few tries to get the pictures taken.  The first guy we asked had his thumb in the shot.

Our parents treated us all to Black Bear Diner afterward--including those who had been too young for the temple and Katie who had slept on our bed during the temple trip.

I rehashed more wedding plans with my mom and sisters.  I said that my stress was rising.  My dad kept telling me that I should get a weight for the bottom of my dress.

"What!?!"

He said, "Well, if your dress is rising you need to weigh it down.  You need to be modest."  Then he grinned.

Maybe people like him are why my stress is rising....

At the reunion, our aunts had a basket of snapshots and Marianne took a picture of this gem.

Adam sees pictures of this and asks, "Did you cheeks need glasses?"  Maybe.

Marianne and Olivia decided we should recreate it.  I guess my dad was talking to someone else because when Ammon sat on his lap, he was startled. "What are you doing?!?"

Here we are trying to get into character--Enoch is looking at the photo for inspiration.

Marianne and Olivia and I are all holding our hands up for reasons only known to genetics.

Tabor said he couldn't do it without his superman pajamas.  I wore my sunglasses, the closest I could come to my becoming 80s photogray glasses.

I like being around these people.

What's it like

Sunday afternoon we were sitting around Enoch and Jennifer's living room.  Marianne and I were squished hip to hip in one of those chair and a half situations.  Tabor came in with a pair of pliers.

"Maybe I'll just pull the whole nail off," he said.

That got the interest of all three of his sisters.  "What are you doing?" we asked, disapproving.  That's our initial reaction with our brothers, mostly Tabor.

Katie was at the kitchen table behind us and Tabor explained she had a blood blister under her fingernail and he was going to lance it and drain it.

That was met with a chorus of don't do that from his sisters.  Olivia maintained that he should leave it alone and it would heal.  Marianne told him it was sterile if left alone.  I reminded him of the time he broke his face (after colliding with a mule) and glued himself back together.  "You're not equipped to give medical advice!" I said.

He ignored us.

He lit a match and sterilized a needle (that he was holding with the pliers.)

Enoch was characteristically silent through it all.  He's laid back in every way except when it involves a basketball and maybe his Traeger.  (He is the one who pointed out that Tabor needed to go to the doctor after the mule/broken face incident and Tabor now has a metal plate in his face so I guess Enoch weighs in when it matters.)

Olivia and I kept protesting that Tabor should stop and that he didn't know what he was doing.

Marianne extricated herself from the chair and hurried to Katie's side.  She said, "You need to do deep breathing.  It will help with the pain."

For the first time it occurred to me that Marianne is exactly suited to be a doula.  I can't imagine anyone better at 1) taking charge and 2) advocating for someone.

She had Katie doing deep breathing.  She said encouragingly, "Come on!  Do ridiculous big breaths."

Tabor said, "Stop breathing and wipe up the blood.  I'm done."

"You're done?!?" Marianne and Katie asked in unison and wonder.

"Yes," he said.

Then at two different times he came after me and Olivia with the pliers.

This is what it is like to be among my siblings.

I love those kids.

Today we're going, along with our parents, to the temple together.  We're celebrating my mom's birthday (which was last April).  Why not make the celebration last?

Reunion

We spent the weekend in Nevada and it was a good time.

Saturday was a reunion at my grandparents' house in Starr Valley.

Clearly it is hard to get that many people looking at the camera at the same time.  Lots of side conversations were happening.

Here's my dad with his siblings:

Demar, Joe, Drew, Mark, Claudia, Olivia and Jennifer

My cousins and sisters and I teased them because the brothers except Demar wore the same shirts.  Did they play a prank on their oldest brother and text him, "Hey!  Wear the purple shirt," and then they all showed up in blue?

The thought of them texting each other about what shirt to wear made us giggle.

Here are the boy cousins in attendance:

Harvey, Ira, Jason, Alexander, Jordan, Micah, Nathan, Enoch and Tabor

Here are the girls (I was wearing heels--you'd better believe I was.  Marianne said it was nice to be at the reunion with our cousins and just be normal and not tall.):

Olivia, Britta, Marianne, Rachel, Molly, Shanon, Danielle, Me, Sarah, Leslie, Gretchen, Catherine, Josie, Jessica and Hannah

 Here are all the cousins.  I counted 7 boys and 6 girls missing:

I look huge in the above picture and Adam said my shirt was "billowy."  Yeah.  We'll go with that.

It was such fun to visit with my cousins.  It feels more fun the older we get.  They are interesting and entertaining and our shared history connects us.

We slipped away from the reunion for a little while (my mom and Katie and some nieces) and went to my parents' house and tried on clothes my mom was getting rid of.  I scored some terrific wool skirts and jackets.

Adam, who thinks I have more jackets than should be legally allowed, stoically packed them in the car.

That night we stayed in Elko and went to church yesterday morning with Enoch and Jennifer and family.  The Knudsens, our family friends growing up, are in that ward and it was wonderful to see them.  I whispered to Adam.  These are my people.

We had a wonderful family dinner at Enoch's house in the afternoon.  Enoch made amazing brisket for us in his Traeger.  Between that and the tri-tip the day before, it was a good weekend for beef!  I enjoyed sitting around the table with my siblings and laughing. I appreciated my mom and sisters talking through wedding stuff with me.  It was fun to interact with my nieces and nephews.

Yes, it's nice to have people.